Soap distributor and ducker for washing-machine bowls



Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

nirao s'rA'rss PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. FURBUSH, or" WEST-FORD, MASSACHUSETTS, Assrenoa T0 0. e. SARGEN'T'S so-Ns CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SOAP DISTRIBUTOR AND DUCKER FOR WASHING-MACHINE BOWLS.

Application filed June 14, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. Formosa, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vestford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Soap Distributor and Ducker for IVashing-Wachine Bowls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device adapted to be applied to the bowl of a wool washing or similar machine for evenly distributing soap all the way across the bowl and to locate it in such a way that it will also perform the function of immersing the floating stock. More specifically the invention involves the use of a rotarysoap distributor extending across the bowl, and means applied thereto for insuring the traverse of the soap across the bowl, so that it will be distributed all the way across and that distribution will be substantially even. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side View of the intake end of a washing machine for operation upon wool or other fibrous material showing a preferred embodiment of this invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the washing bowl on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the soap distributor in side elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the soap distributor on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The invention is shown as applied to the bowl 10 of a Wool washing machine. I have not illustrated herein the details of the washing machine because the invention can be applied to various types thereof. This bowl is shown as having an offset portion 11 at one side near the feed end constituting a soap receiving receptacle into which the soap, in liquid form preferably, is poured, and from which it is discharged into the bowl. For the purpose of receiving the soap from this receiver 11 and distributing it all the way across the bowl I mount a transverse shaft 12 in the bowl passing into the soap receiver and provided with a pulley 13 and belt or other means for driving it in one direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

On this shaft is mounted a cylindrical distributor 14 formed of perforated metal Serial No. 645,477.

fit is not absolutely perfect, that is a matter of small consequence, because only a small amount would escape.

The cylinder 14 is formed of sheet metal finely perforated'and it is provided with a series of spirally arranged angularly' located vanes 20 on the inside of the cylinder projecting radially inward and designed for conveying a large proportion of the soap along the cylinder on the interior thereof. As it rotates the soap is spread all the way through it and passes out through the perforations in a substantially uniform manner all the way across the tank. These vanes are helically curved in the proper way to carry the liquid soap ahead of them longitudinally through the cylinder.

On the outside also straight vanes 21 are provided coextensive with the vanes 20 and they may register with them or alternate with them as desired. I have shown six of the outside vanes and four of the inside ones. The object of these external vanes is to engage the stock which floats on the surface of the water and duck it down under the water as the cylinder rotates. It' will be seen therefore that this device serves two ..important functions and that without add ing materially to the expense of manufacture necessary for enabling it to distribute the soap only.

By this device the soap is spread evenly across the tank so that all portions cannot be distributed in one place, and none at all in another. It requires little power to operate it and very little attention except to keep the receiver 11 supplied with soap. It is intended to be operated with liquid soap. but can be used with some forms of powdered or flake soap.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention and shown it applied to only one type of washing bowl, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein, and that it can be applied to washing bowls in general without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all details of construction herein shown and described, except as expressed in the claims, but what I do claim is l. The combination with a washing bowl, of a bodily movable means therein for receiving soap at one side of the bowl and distributing it outwardly therefrom uniformly across the bowl.

2. The combination With a washing bowl having a stationary soap receiver at one side thereof, of rotary means located in position for constantly receiving soap therein at one end by gravity from the soap re ceiver and distributing it uniformly across the bowl.

an open end extending into the receiver toreceive the soap directly therefrom.

l. The combination with a washing bowl having a soap receiver at one side thereof,

of a rotary shaft extending across the wash mg bowl from the soap receiver and having a cylinder provided with perforations in its wall fixed on the shaft, said cylinder extending into the soap receiver to receive the soap therefrom.

5. The combination with a washing bowl having a soap receiver, of a shaft supported by thewashing bowl, a cylinder provided with perforations in its wall fixed on the shaft, said cylinder opening into the soap receiver to receive the soap therefrom, and means projecting inwardly from the inside of the cylinder for transferring the soap along the cylinder as the shaft rotates.

6. The combination with a washing bowl having a soap receiver fixed in the wall thereof, of a shaft extending across the washing bowl from the soap receiver and having a cylinder provided with perforations in its wall fixed on the shaft, said cylinder opening into the soap receiver to receive the soap therefrom, and a plurality of substantially radial, helically arranged vanes inside the cylinder for transferring the soap longitudinally therealong as the cylinder rotates.

7. The combination with a washing bowl, and a soap receiver therefor, of a shaft on the washing bowl, a cylinder on the shaft, provided with perforations in its wall, said cylinder opening into the soap receiver to receive the soap therefrom, a plurality of substantially radial, helically arranged vanes inside the cylinder for transferring the soap longitudinally therealong as the cylinder rotates, and a series of external vanes projecting radially from the outside surface of the cylinder for engaging the fibrous material floating on the water in the bowl and ducking it under the surface of the water.

8. As an article of manufacture, a soap distributor for the purposes described, com prising a cylinder of perforated metal having vanes extending inwardly therefrom, 211d longitudinal vanes on its external surace.

9. The combination with a washing bowl, of a perforated cylinder extending across it, means for rotating said cylinder, means for introducing soap into the cylinder, and a series of vanes extending from the external surfaces of the cylinder for immersing stock floating on the surface of the water in the bowl.

10. The combination with a washing bowl, of a rotatable cylinder extending across the same and having vanes on its external surfaces for immersing floating stock, with means for introducing soap all the time through the walls of the cylinder into the water.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

FRANK L. FURBUSH. 

